Concerned about EWUA Policies and Rates? Attend Special Meeting

— by Paul Kamin, EWUA General Manager —

The EWUA Board has scheduled a membership meeting for Monday Dec 8th at 6:30 -8:30 pm at the Eastsound Fire Hall. The meeting will include two topics that have drawn attention recently:

• EWUA’s Guest House policies;
• alternative rates structures.

This Fall, EWUA has undertaken an effort to better identify properties with 2 living units. The Department of Health (DOH) requires that EWUA account for each living unit connected to the water system to insure that the water system has adequate capacity to serve its commitments. (EWUA does.)

Through this process EWUA has found that only 1 out of 3 Guest Houses connected to the water system are accounted for in EWUA’s and DOH’s Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) capacity management system.

A group of members with previously undocumented guest houses has also asked EWUA to re-examine the current rate structure. The primary request is to have rates linked more closely with actual water consumption. This is a reasonable request, and the EWUA Board has agreed to examine this alternative as part of the 2015 budgeting process that is underway.

Both topics impact all members. In financial terms, all single family home owners have been subsidizing some guest house owners that do not have the ERU’s adequate to support their potential demand on the water system. A new rates schedule more strongly linked to water use will likely mean higher rates for most year-round residents.

EWUA will be presenting details about the Association’s Guest House policies AND alternative rate structures for consideration. Members are also encouraged to send questions in advance to ewua@rockisland.com so staff can prepare materials for the best answers.

Guest House Policies and Water Service Rate Structures Reminder-the deadline to apply for a Guest House Upgrade at a 50% discount is Dec 31st.